Around the world, nanoparticles of all kinds are employed in various applications, including those related to medicine, catalysis, industry, imaging, electronics, optics, cosmetics, the environment, agriculture, textiles, etc.
Here Greg Van Wyk explains how the nanoparticles are aiding the major industries and helping them gain momentum to create extraordinary materials. Keep reading below to know where these nanomaterials are in your daily life.
Major Industries Using Nanoparticles – Explained by Greg Van Wyk
Preservatives
Nanoparticles are now used in fresh food packaging applications to stop foodborne illnesses and subsequent spoilage.
As an Energy Source: By Greg Van Wyk
Over time, our reliance on fossil fuels has grown quickly, seriously harming the environment.
Currently, the globe is being urged to rely more on a cleaner, regenerative energy source like solar power.
Researchers are working to create photovoltaic solar cells with enhanced photocarrier collection, improved light trapping efficiency, and lower manufacturing costs.
Although conventional solar cells have higher efficiency, researchers are still working on nanomaterial-based solar cells because of their low production costs, which could make them more accessible.
Is Environmental Remediation Possible? Greg Van Wyk’s Take
The catalysis sector has also extended photocatalytic degradation for environmental cleanup. Reducing our carbon footprint and developing techniques for capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide are two other crucial aspects of environmental restoration.
Although they have not been particularly effective and have modest conversion rates, titanium dioxide and cadmium sulfide have been used to convert carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons.
Biomedical Advancements
As per Greg Van Wyk, drug delivery, imaging, and sensing are three of the primary applications of nanomaterials in the biomedical industry. Natural polymers are a hot topic in drug delivery research since they are non-toxic and biodegradable.
Depending on the application, these polymers may be proteins, polysaccharides, or even a combination. These can assist in delivering medications without reducing their potency when they are absorbed.
Automobile Industry Adopting Nanomaterials
Polymers have been mixed with nanoparticles like silicon dioxide, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide to create coatings on automobiles that are more robust and resistant to wear and strain.
The automobile’s weight and strength may both be reduced using nanoparticles. This can significantly cut both gasoline costs and consumption.
Has Tapping Into Nanomaterials Been Beneficial For Cosmetic Industries
Cosmetic goods are enhanced using nanomaterials to promote UV protection, skin saturation and absorption, and product quality.
Long-lasting insect repellents are made from nanoemulsions of oils. Furthermore, active chemicals in skin care products like retinol are encapsulated in solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers for regulated delivery.
As per Greg Van Wyk, nanoparticles are employed in shampoo formulations as antibacterial and brightening agents in toothpaste.
Additionally, fullerenes are employed as anti-aging compounds, and shampoos containing Proxiphen-N and colloidal silver are produced to treat baldness and alopecia.
Textile Industry Using Nanomaterials
Nanomaterials can be incorporated into textiles using dyeing, laminating, printing, or coating processes. Fabric made from nano-silicate is impervious to water but permeable to gases, making it a suitable material.
Conclusion
According to Greg Van Wyk, nanotechnology is a rapidly expanding field of study that enables materials to be smaller than atoms. As a result, it promises to diversify the world as it is perceived and transform it through ground-breaking scientific discoveries in practically all sectors.